Somewhat of an overlooked icon of American design, Ficks Reed was founded by Louis Ficks in 1885 as the National Carriage and Reed Company, a New York purveyor of wicker baby carriages. By the turn of the century, however, the company had moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, and, under the auspices of Ficks Reed, began manufacturing furniture with wicker, rattan and bamboo.
Over the coming decades, Ficks Reed would benefit from an increased interest in Asian imports, as evidenced in everything from the growing popularity of chinoiserie wallpaper and Chinese porcelain to the Japanese influence in Frank Lloyd Wright’s modern architecture.
The brand was also bolstered by partnerships with several prominent architects and designers throughout the 20th century, including Paul László, Pipsan Saarinen Swanson — creator of the company's Sol-Air Group and elder sister of Eero Saarinen — John B. Wisner, Paul T. Frankl and Dorothy Draper.
Each Ficks Reed partner brought their unique sensibility to the designs — Swanson’s had skeletal frames while Draper, a largely forgotten decorator and pioneer of the Hollywood Regency style, favored more ornate detailing; László created low-slung seats — but all were rendered in the company’s signature wicker and bamboo.
Thanks in large part to the Draper relationship, Ficks Reed furniture has long been a fixture at The Greenbrier and Colony hotels, as well as other luxury properties including the Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton resorts and The Breakers in Palm Beach. In 2006, Draper protégé Carleton Varney continued his mentor’s legacy by debuting a new 20-piece collection for Ficks Reed based on her original designs.
A recent resurgence in the popularity of wicker and rattan has given way to newfound demand for Ficks Reed rattan chairs and other furniture in the secondary market, where original vintage pieces are often refinished, repainted or lacquered to further underscore the textural detail of their bamboo and rattan frames.
Find vintage Ficks Reed sofas, tables, armchairs and other furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
John Wisner Mid-Century Hollywood Regency Tile Top Side Table, 1950s
By John Wisner, Ficks Reed
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous mid-century Hollywood Regency Organic Modern side table By John Wisner for Ficks Reed, "Far Horizons" Collection USA, 1950s Bamboo rattan frame, with white tiled top ac...
Ceramic, Bamboo, Rattan
John Wisner for Ficks Reed Hollywood Regency Tile Top Side Tables, 1950s
By John Wisner, Ficks Reed
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous pair of mid-century Hollywood Regency Organic Modern side tables By John Wisner for Ficks Reed, "Far Horizons" Collection USA, 1950s Bamboo rattan frames, with white ti...
Ceramic, Bamboo, Rattan
John Wisner Mid-Century Hollywood Regency Tile Top Coffee Table, 1950s
By John Wisner, Ficks Reed
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous mid-century Hollywood Regency Organic Modern coffee table or cocktail table By John Wisner for Ficks Reed, "Far Horizons" Collection USA, 1950s Bamboo rattan frame, wit...
Ceramic, Bamboo, Rattan
John Wisner Mid-Century Hollywood Regency Pagoda Coffee Table, 1950s
By Ficks Reed, John Wisner
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous mid-century Hollywood Regency Organic Modern Pagoda form coffee table or cocktail table By John Wisner for Ficks Reed, "Far Horizons" Collection USA, 1950s Bamboo ratta...
Bamboo, Rattan, Reed
Heywood Wakefield Ashcraft Hollywood Regency Bamboo Form Coffee Table, 1950s
By Heywood-Wakefield Co.
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Mid-Century Modern Hollywood Regency chinoiserie square coffee table By Heywood Wakefield USA, 1950s Solid ash top, with bamboo form legs and stretchers. Measu...
Ash
Bernhard Rohne for Mastercraft Hollywood Regency Dining Table, Circa 1970s
By Bernhard Rohne, Mastercraft
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous mid-century modern Hollywood Regency dining table By Bernhard Rohne for Mastercraft Furniture USA, 1970s Acid etched brass, with ebonized wood, and beveled mirrored gla...
Brass
Robsjohn Gibbings Style Mid Century Tile Top Side Table
By T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Robsjohn Gibbings style mid century tile top side table This table measures: 17.5 wide x 17.5 deep x 15 inches high All pieces of furniture can be had in what we call restored ...
Ceramic, Wood
Vintage French Square Side Table with Ceramic Tile Top by Jacques Blin, c. 1950s
By Jacques Blin
Located in London, GB
Mid-Century French square side table with ceramic tile top by Jacques Blin (circa 1950s). Earthenware tiles in Blin's burnt clay colour are de...
Ceramic, Wood
Edward Wormley Murano Tile Occasional Table for Dunbar, c.1955
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Edward Wormley Murano Tile Occasional Table for Dunbar, circa 1955.
Brass
Danish Cabinetmaker Art Deco Side Table Stained Birch & Ceramic Tiles 1930s
By Frits Henningsen
Located in Odense, DK
Beautiful authentic Art Deco side table made by a cabinetmaker in Denmark in 1937. The table is made from solid stained birch and painted ceramic tiles with a warm abstract motif. Da...
Ceramic, Birch
Edward Wormley Dunbar End Side Table with Gertrud and Otto Natzler Ceramic Tiles
By Gertrud and Otto Natzler, Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Studio City, CA
This very rare and absolutely stunning Edward Wormley designed end/ occasional table for Dunbar Furniture for their "Janus" collection, circa 1956-1957 comes with inlaid, glazed tile...
Ceramic, Wood
1950s Faux Bamboo Side Table with Porcelain Tile Top, Italy
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Faux bamboo wrought iron side table with brass tie accents. Top is a painted porcelain tile with flowers and butterflies. A sweet little drinks table.
Iron
